MyDomainPlan Research • Volume 1 • August 2026

AI FIRST GATES: Why the Next Billion-Dollar Businesses Will Be Built Around Digital Gateways, Not Just Artificial Intelligence

Mapping the Digital Gateways of the Artificial Intelligence Economy. The inaugural AI First Gates Index™ identifying, classifying, and monitoring the strategic digital positions shaping the next decade.

AI FIRST GATES INDEX 2026
Prepared byDiamond Ola Walker
Founder, MyDomainPlan Research
Creator of MDP Valuation Framework
PublishedVolume 1 • August 9, 2026
AI First Gates Index™ 2026
10,000+ Territories Analyzed

Research Disclaimer: The AI First Gates Index combines quantitative and qualitative structural analysis. Scores and rankings reflect methodology described in Chapter 12 and are updated periodically.

Investment Disclaimer: This report is for informational and strategic-intelligence purposes only. It does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Digital territory valuation is forward-looking and subject to uncertainty. Conduct independent due diligence.

Table of Contents

  1. ForewordThe New Territory
  2. Executive SummaryThe Next Phase
  3. Chapter One — The AI Economy Needs a New Mapp10
  4. Chapter Two — Introducing AI First Gatesp12
  5. Chapter Three — Research Methodologyp14
  6. Chapter Four — Worked Example: Healthcare AIp17
  7. Chapter Five — Top Twenty AI Digital Territoriesp19
  8. Chapter Six — The Opportunity Multiplierp41
  9. Chapter Seven — Digital Territory Saturationp43
  10. Chapter Eight — AFCI Confidence Indexp46
  11. Chapter Nine — Geographic AI First Gatesp49
  12. Chapter Ten — Market Observationsp56
  13. Chapter Eleven — Emerging Territoriesp66
  14. Chapter Twelve — Case Studyp69
  15. Chapter Thirteen — Methodology & Limitationsp71
  16. Chapter Fourteen — About MyDomainPlanp73
  17. Appendix A & B — Score Bands & Glossaryp75
Foreword

Every economic revolution creates new territory.

The Industrial Revolution created factories, railways, and ports — physical infrastructure that determined which towns prospered and which were left behind. The internet created websites, search engines, and platforms — digital infrastructure that determined which businesses were found and which remained invisible. Artificial intelligence is creating its own layer of infrastructure now, and it is being built faster than either of those that came before it.

That infrastructure is made of digital gateways: trusted, memorable, and strategically positioned entry points through which people discover, access, and interact with AI services.

Just as cities organize themselves around transport hubs, business districts, and commercial centers, the AI economy is organizing itself around digital gateways. This is easy to miss, because most of the public conversation about AI is focused elsewhere — on which model performs best, which company raised the largest round, which application went viral this quarter.

Underneath them, a quieter structural process is under way: industries, countries, and technologies are each acquiring a small number of digital positions that will come to define how the public finds and trusts AI within that category.

Those positions are becoming valuable digital real estate, in the same way that a corner lot on a city's busiest intersection becomes valuable long before anyone builds on it.

The AI First Gates Index™ has been developed to identify, classify, and monitor these emerging positions — systematically, and before they become obvious.

The inaugural edition establishes the analytical architecture. Where sufficient empirical data is not yet available, illustrative inputs are used to demonstrate application of the methodology. These are not presented as definitive measurements. Future editions will progressively replace them with observed market data.

Executive Summary

The AI economy is entering a new phase.

The first phase focused on algorithms. The second focused on computing power. The third, still under way, is focused on applications. The next phase will focus on digital gateways.

The organizations that occupy the most trusted digital positions within industries, countries, and technologies will influence how AI is discovered, adopted, and commercialized — regardless of which underlying model a user ultimately reaches.

The AI First Gates Index™ ranks digital territories according to long-term strategic importance within the AI economy, using a structural methodology detailed in Chapters 3 and 4.

Across the twenty industry territories assessed, Healthcare AI currently leads three of the four Index metrics — not on a single measure, but consistently across all four core metrics.

This inaugural report introduces:

  • The AI First Gates Framework — 4-layer model of the AI economy
  • The AI First Gates Index — Top 20 industry + Top 20 national gateways
  • The MDP Structural Assessment Model — 11 weighted criteria, 100% total
  • The Opportunity Multiplier — Measures mispricing, not just strength
  • The AI First Gates Confidence Index (AFCI) — How much to trust the assessment
  • Digital Territory Saturation — How crowded is the gateway
  • AI Gateway Domains — Premium digital identities as strategic assets

Full territory-by-territory commentary begins in Chapter Five. Readers who want scoring mechanics first should read Chapters Three and Four — written to make every published score fully auditable.

Chapter One

The AI Economy Needs a New Map

For centuries, wealth has been created through ownership of strategic locations. Major roads created commercial centers. Railways created industrial towns. Ports created trading cities. Airports created logistics hubs. Each new layer of infrastructure produced its own class of strategic position — and each time, the people who recognized and secured those positions early created outsized, durable value.

The internet created a new layer: digital real estate. Domain names, marketplaces, and platforms became strategic locations. The businesses that occupied the most trusted positions captured disproportionate value.

Artificial intelligence is now creating an entirely new layer on top of that one.

From Companies to Territories

Every prior infrastructure shift eventually separated the winners from the ground they stood on. Many early railway companies did not survive; the railway towns did. Many first dot-com search engines did not survive; the practice of organizing the internet around trusted gateways did.

The same separation is beginning in AI. Individual AI companies will rise, merge, and disappear. The digital territories they compete within — Healthcare AI, Legal AI, Government AI, and the 17 others in Chapter Five — are more durable, because they map to enduring human needs rather than product cycles.

Four New Concepts

Digital TerritoriesBroad sectors where AI adoption occurs
Digital GatewaysTrusted entry points to discover services
AI First GatesGateways at intersection of territory + AI
Structural IntelligenceAnalyzing infrastructure, not company performance
Chapter Two

Introducing AI First Gates

Definition

AI First Gates are strategically positioned digital gateways that serve as the primary points through which industries, countries, technologies, and communities discover, access, and interact with artificial intelligence.

They are more than domain names. They represent:

  • Digital identity
  • Authority
  • Discoverability
  • Trust
  • Ecosystem leadership

The AI First Gates Framework — Four Layers

LayerNameExampleRole
Layer 1Digital TerritoryHealthcare, Law, FinanceBroad human activity sector
Layer 2AI GatewayHealthcare AI, Legal AIApplied entry point within territory
Layer 3Digital InfrastructurePlatforms, APIs, DirectoriesOperationalizes the gateway
Layer 4AI EconomyFull ecosystemCompanies, governments, talent

AI Startups vs Infrastructure vs AI First Gates

AI StartupsBuild products, compete on execution. Value tied to company performance.
AI InfrastructureCompute, models, tooling. Value tied to tech adoption.
AI First GatesStructural digital positions. Value tied to territory durability.
Durability TestIf every company in territory was replaced in 5 years, would the gateway still matter? For AI First Gates, yes.
Chapter Three

Research Methodology — The MDP Structural Assessment Model

Every AI First Gate is evaluated using 11 weighted criteria summing to 100%, producing each territory's MDP Score.

#CriteriaWeightFamily
1AI Investment Momentum12%Momentum & Scale
2Market Size10%Momentum & Scale
3Enterprise Adoption10%Momentum & Scale
4Data Availability9%Readiness
5Regulatory Readiness9%Readiness
6Digital Infrastructure8%Readiness
7Innovation Ecosystem8%Readiness
8Long-Term Importance10%Readiness
9Opportunity Multiplier9%Companion Index
10Digital Territory Saturation8%Companion Index
11AFCI7%Companion Index

Reading the Criteria

  • Investment Momentum: Rate/scale of capital — VC, corporate R&D, public investment
  • Market Size: Current + projected economic size independent of AI
  • Enterprise Adoption: Pilots → Production deployment
  • Data Availability: Volume, quality, accessibility for training
  • Regulatory Readiness: Clarifying vs unsettled policy
  • Digital Infrastructure: Maturity of platforms, APIs, tooling
  • Innovation Ecosystem: Startups, research, specialist talent density
  • Long-Term Importance: 5–10 year structural centrality
  • Opportunity Multiplier: Mispricing score (Ch 6)
  • Saturation: Crowding favorability (Ch 7)
  • AFCI: Confidence in assessment (Ch 8)
Chapter Four

Worked Example — Healthcare AI

To make every MDP Score auditable, this chapter walks through Healthcare AI criterion by criterion.

CriteriaScore (0-100)WeightContribution
Investment Momentum9612%11.52
Market Size9810%9.8
Enterprise Adoption9710%9.7
Data Availability1009%9.0
Regulatory Readiness1009%9.0
Digital Infrastructure988%7.84
Innovation Ecosystem998%7.92
Long-Term Importance10010%10.0
Opportunity Multiplier969%8.64
Saturation (favorability)948%7.52
AFCI977%6.79
TOTAL MDP SCORE98.05 → 98

Reading the Result

No single criterion drives Healthcare AI's ranking. Investment (96) and Market Size (98) confirm funding and economic scale, but readiness indicators — Data and Regulatory both 100 — reinforce it. The three companion indices tell nuanced story: Opportunity Multiplier 96, AFCI 97, Saturation favorability 94 (raw crowding only 27 — Low). That combination — high importance, low crowding — is precisely the profile the Index is built to surface.

Key Insight: High MDP + Low Saturation = Extraordinary Opportunity. Healthcare AI is the clearest example in this volume.

Chapter Five

The AI First Gates Index — Top 20 AI Digital Territories

Twenty digital territories ranked by MDP Score, each drawn from Layer Two of the Framework. Full commentary covering investment, adoption, policy, demand, competition, scarcity, domain strategy, and outlook.

1 Healthcare AI
Extraordinary • MDP 98

Investment: Deepest, most consistent across venture, corporate R&D, public modernization. Holds direction across funding cycles.

Adoption: Moved from pilots to production — admin + diagnostic support mainstream, clinical decision-support expanding.

Policy: Well-defined regulatory pathways = high Regulatory Readiness + high AFCI.

Scarcity: Core asymmetry — high importance, low gateway crowding.

2 Government AI
Tier One • MDP ~96

Public-sector AI accelerating via national strategies + sovereign initiatives. Uneven adoption (citizen services fastest). Low saturation, near-top MDP = strongest asymmetry after Healthcare.

3 Enterprise AI
Most Contested

Largest corporate R&D share, most mature adoption. Most contested gateway — dozens of well-funded vendors. Medium saturation moderates Opportunity Multiplier.

4 Legal AI
Very High Opportunity

Contract review, research, e-discovery. Bar association guidance increasing confidence. Low saturation + high MDP = strong multiplier. Trust signals disproportionately important.

5 Robotics AI
Physical AI • Very High

Warehouse, industrial, humanoid platforms. Demand tied to labor-cost + supply-chain resilience. Benefits from bridging physical + digital credibility.

6 Education AI
Very High

Personalized learning + admin automation. Broad pilot but slower full deployment (procurement). Institutional trust + safeguarding credentials matter.

7 Manufacturing AI
Stable Tier One

Predictive maintenance, quality inspection. Mature among large manufacturers. Medium saturation = solidly High multiplier. Favors deep vertical specialization.

8 Finance AI
High Saturation

Fraud, algo trading, compliance. Most mature + crowded gateway (fintech head start). High saturation holds multiplier below MDP.

9 Cybersecurity AI
Mature • High Confidence

Intense, non-discretionary demand. Near-universal enterprise adoption. Among highest-confidence but most contested. High saturation = proven, not risky.

10 Agriculture AI
Underappreciated

Precision farming, crop-monitoring. Early-stage adoption (connectivity gated). Genuinely open gateway — few cross-regional brands. Strong multiplier.

11 Climate AI
Very High • Low Saturation

Climate-tech VC + ESG R&D. Early-stage, concentrated in large enterprises with reporting obligations. Least saturated territories in Top 20.

12 Energy AI
Very High

Grid optimization, demand forecasting, renewable integration. Durable demand tied to electrification. Moderate competition from energy-tech vendors.

13 Logistics AI
Stable

Route optimization, warehouse automation. Mature among large operators. Medium saturation, solid multiplier. Operational credibility > marketing.

14 Retail AI
Crowded

Personalization, inventory forecasting. Mature + competitive. Sub-category specialization outperforms broad claim.

15 Construction AI
Strongest Multiplier

Project management, safety monitoring. Early-stage (historically slow digital adoption). Very low saturation + solid MDP = strongest Opportunity Multiplier scores in Index.

16 Smart Cities AI
Very High • Long Sales Cycle

Municipal digital infrastructure. Pilot-heavy, fragmented procurement. Largely open gateway. High long-term potential.

17 Insurance AI
Stable

Underwriting automation, claims, fraud. Mature among large carriers. Medium saturation. Actuarial + regulatory credibility matters.

18 Tourism AI
Low Friction • Cyclical

Personalization, dynamic pricing. Low regulatory friction but cyclical demand (travel). Relatively open gateway.

19 Sports AI
Very High • Early

Performance analytics, fan engagement. Early, concentrated in pro leagues. Largely open gateway, thinner evidentiary base.

20 Media AI
Legally Unsettled

Content generation, personalization, rights-management. Broad but contentious adoption. Highly competitive + unresolved copyright = most legally unsettled territory in Top 20.

Chapter Six

The Opportunity Multiplier

Definition

Quantifies structural asymmetry between future strategic value and current cost of acquisition. Unlike MDP Score (strength), Opportunity Multiplier measures mispricing — how far ahead fundamentals are vs market recognition.

Formula — Opportunity Multiplier Score (OMS) OMS = (FVP × 0.45) + (CPA × 0.35) + (SGV × 0.20)

FVP = Future Value Potential (0-100)
CPA = Current Positioning Advantage (0-100) — how uncrowded/cheap today
SGV = Structural Growth Velocity (0-100) — pace of trajectory

Worked Example — Healthcare AI

FVP 97 ×0.45 = 43.65, CPA 96 ×0.35 = 33.6, SGV 94 ×0.20 = 18.8 → 96.05 = Extraordinary. High future value + low present cost = highest-conviction asymmetry.

Interpretation

Relative, not predictive — does not forecast price or timeline. Identifies where gap between present cost and future importance is largest. Upper-right quadrant (high FVP, high CPA) = highest conviction.

Chapter Seven

Digital Territory Saturation

Definition

Measures how crowded/contested a territory's digital positioning already is — independent of market size or growth. Two territories can have identical investment yet one may have dozens of strong gateways, other remains open.

Formula — Digital Territory Saturation Score (DTSS) — Higher = More Crowded (Less Favourable) DTSS = (CD × 0.35) + (EGR × 0.25) + (IR × 0.20) + (TO × 0.20)

CD = Competitive Density, EGR = Entrant Growth Rate
IR = Institutional Recognition, TO = Territory Overlap

Worked Example — Healthcare AI

CD 22, EGR 35, IR 28, TO 25 → DTSS = 27 = Low Saturation. Despite highest MDP Score, few branded gateways have claimed position. High importance + low crowding = attractive.

Reading Rule: Low MDP + Low Saturation = not important yet. High MDP + Low Saturation = highest-conviction opportunity. Always read alongside MDP.

Chapter Eight

The AI First Gates Confidence Index (AFCI)

Definition

Measures reliability and durability of signals underlying MDP Score — not how large opportunity is, but how much we should trust the assessment. Two territories can have identical MDP with very different AFCI.

Formula — AFCI — Higher = More Confidence (More Favourable) AFCI = (Signal Consistency ×0.30) + (Data Reliability ×0.25) + (Trend Durability ×0.20) + (Independent Corroboration ×0.15) + (Volatility Stability ×0.10)

Worked Example — Healthcare AI = 97

Corroborated by regulatory, public investment, procurement from multiple independent sources. Trajectory held across several reporting periods — drives Trend Durability + Volatility Stability >95.

Interpretation

Compare MDP vs AFCI side-by-side. High MDP + lower AFCI (e.g., Quantum AI) = genuine long-term promise built on thinner evidence — worth monitoring, not yet same confidence as Tier 1.

Chapter Nine

Geographic AI First Gates — Top 20 Nations

Same MDP Model applied to national digital territories — not research output or GDP, but structural assessment of how strong a digital position that country represents as an AI gateway. Expanded Top 100 planned for Volume 2.

#CountryMDPOpportunity MultiplierSaturationAFCINote
1United States98HighMediumVery HighDeepest investment base, most contested
2China96HighMediumVery HighState-directed + rapid adoption
3United Kingdom91ExtraordinaryLowHighResearch base, still open gateway
4Germany90Very HighMediumHighIndustrial AI + EU policy
5India89ExtraordinaryLowHighStrongest multiplier in Top 5
6Japan88HighMediumVery HighRobotics + manufacturing anchor
7South Korea87HighMediumHighSemiconductor + infra base
8Canada86Very HighLowHighDisproportionate research talent
9Singapore85Very HighLowVery HighPolicy clarity + open gateway
10France84HighMediumHighNational strategy + research
11UAE80ExtraordinaryVery LowModerateHighest multiplier in Top 20 — sovereign bet
12Israel83HighMediumHighDense startup ecosystem
13Australia82Very HighLowHighPolicy clarity + low saturation
14Netherlands81Very HighLowHighEU infra hub
15Switzerland80HighMediumVery HighResearch + stability
16Saudi Arabia78ExtraordinaryVery LowModerateWealth-backed, nearly uncontested
17Nigeria77ExtraordinaryVery LowModerateHighest multiplier — young, digital population
18Ireland79HighMediumHighEU data infra hub
19Sweden78Very HighLowHighStrong digital infra
20South Africa75ExtraordinaryVery LowModerateSecond-highest multiplier — nearly open

Pattern: Highest Opportunity Multipliers outside G7 — UAE, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, South Africa all >85. Geographic equivalent of Healthcare AI pattern: strong momentum + still-open gateway. High multiplier + Moderate AFCI = asymmetric upside, not certainty.

Chapter Ten

Market Observations & Emerging Signals

The Index must be a living instrument detecting earliest movements beneath AI economy. Some signals emerge before data exists for formal ranking. This chapter records those signals — deliberately different from ranked analysis.

Observation 1 — Country + AI Domain Availability

Exploratory tests across ~7 country+AI combinations: most major-country combos already unavailable, held in anticipation. Only limited alternatives remained obtainable including MalawiAI.com secured during research. Not statistically representative but early scarcity signal: obvious national AI identities showing scarcity while AI economy still early.

Future editions will expand to dozens of countries, tracking availability rates, aftermarket activity, asking prices, government adoption, competing identities, changes quarterly — toward a measure of National Digital Territory Saturation.

Observation 2 — Government Naming: The USAI.gov Signal

USAI.gov — official US government AI platform (GSA) offering Chat, API, Console. Significance: naming convention USA + AI = concise, authoritative, difficult to replicate. Provides observable real-world example of country+AI as national gateway hypothesis. Test for future: will other governments adopt country+AI architecture? Monitoring for national portals, sovereign infrastructure, marketplaces, directories.

Observation 3 — Regional AI Gateways Emerging

AI not organizing only globally + nationally. Regional ecosystems: Africa, EU, ASEAN, GCC, ECOWAS driven by shared regulation, language, economic integration. Examples AfricaAIPlatform.com, EUAIPlatform.com illustrate intermediate space between global and national. Functions: aggregate startups, attract regional investors, connect researchers, coordinate governments, provide infrastructure no single country could justify.

Observation 4 — Localisation of AI

Africa early example: March 2026 Intron Sahara speech platform expanded to 57 languages including Hausa, Swahili, Yoruba, Igbo. Veta Origin LLM across 6 African countries with Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Swahili. GSMA + Pleias CommonLingua April 2026 — 334 languages including 61 African languages. Thiomi Dataset covering 10 African languages (text+audio). Significance: value of generic global destination complemented by specialised gateways serving countries, languages, cultures. AI economy simultaneously more global and more local.

Observation 5 — Investment Geographically Distributed

Kenya: August 2026 Nairobi Securities Exchange announced East Africa's first AI-focused ETF — signal local capital markets recognizing AI as mainstream theme. Matters because ecosystem becomes more structurally significant when AI moves beyond tech companies into capital markets, policy, education, workforce.

The Market Observation Cycle (Quarterly)

What changed?Material developments since previous edition
What emerged?New territories, gateways, platforms
What became scarcer?Domains, infra, talent, data
What gained institutional recognition?Govt initiatives, investment products, classifications
What to watch next?Signals not yet strong enough to affect rankings

First Baseline for Volume 1

  • Country+AI scarcity observable in limited testing
  • USAI.gov early example of Country+AI naming
  • Regional gateway concepts emerging
  • AI localisation producing African-language models/datasets
  • AI embedding in local investment ecosystems (ETF example)

Principle: Most important market signals are visible before measurable at scale. Domain becomes unavailable before importance universally recognized. Role of Index is to observe without confusing with established facts.

Chapter Eleven

Emerging AI Digital Territories

Top 20 chapters have enough corroborating data for full 11-criteria assessment. The six territories below do not yet meet that bar. They are included because digital gateway positioning is already forming ahead of underlying market maturity — precisely the pattern Index exists to detect early.

These territories are not yet ranked. They are watched. No formal MDP Score in this volume — assigning one would imply false precision.

AI Governance

Why Emerging: Market forming around auditing, compliance, oversight — separate from vertical, separate from general enterprise AI.

Signals: Dedicated platforms, formal auditing standards in several markets, rising corporate spend on AI compliance distinct from IT governance.

What to Watch: Regulatory convergence across major markets; credible enterprise adoption data.

AI Identity

Why Emerging: As AI agents act on behalf of people/orgs, verifying who/what is acting becomes distinct infrastructure problem, adjacent to but separate from cybersecurity.

Signals: Standards efforts around agent authentication, small but growing vendors building dedicated verification tooling.

What to Watch: Thinnest evidentiary base — adoption data + settled standards still early.

AI Finance

Why Emerging: Distinct from Finance AI (Ch5 No.8) which is AI applied within existing FIs. AI Finance is infrastructure for financing, insuring, pricing AI systems and AI-native assets themselves.

Signals: First AI-specific insurance products, investor interest in AI-native financial instruments, frameworks for valuing AI infra as asset class.

AI Cities

Why Emerging: Distinct from Smart Cities AI (Ch5 No.16). AI Cities = which urban centers become recognized global hubs for AI research, talent, investment.

Signals: Cities branding explicitly around AI hub status, targeted public investment in AI innovation districts.

Quantum AI

Why Emerging: Intersection of quantum computing + AI technically early, but strategic positioning question — trusted gateway to quantum-enabled AI — already contested ahead of maturity.

AI Defence

Why Emerging: Military/national-security AI — autonomous systems, intel analysis, decision-support — significant state investment but distinct from commercial territories.

Signals: Dedicated defence-AI procurement, specialist contractor/startup base, first multinational policy frameworks for autonomous weapons.

What to Watch: Unusually opaque — much investment/deployment classified, primary reason not yet formally scored.

Readers who track only Top 20 risk missing exactly early positioning this report is built to surface — same asymmetry that made Healthcare AI, Construction AI, and UAE's national gateway attractive before obvious.

Chapter Twelve

Digital Territory Case Study

Methodology in abstract made concrete by comparing two hypothetical digital positions — not to recommend specific asset, but illustrate reasoning MDP Model applies to any position.

Two Positions

Position A — Generic KeywordBuilt around broad descriptive term for AI — equivalent of naming shop "The Bookstore." Understandable, but describes category rather than occupying position within it.
Position B — Strategic AI GatewayDeliberately aligned with specific territory in Framework — e.g., Healthcare AI rather than "AI" generally.

A generic keyword describes a category. A strategic gateway occupies a position within it.

Structural Comparison

DimensionPosition A — GenericPosition B — Strategic Gateway
Can be scored vs 11 criteria?No — no defined territoryYes — full audit possible
Value driverSearch volume, brand recallTerritory durability, saturation, AFCI
Saturation measurable?No — no specific competitive setYes — DTSS applicable
RiskShifts with trendsTied to enduring human need
Opportunity MultiplierCannot be computed meaningfullyCan surface mispricing

Why This Matters: Structural positioning, not descriptive breadth, determines durable digital value. Generic can be memorable without being strategic. Strategic can be less obvious while carrying far greater long-term structural value — precisely asymmetry Opportunity Multiplier built to detect.

Chapter Thirteen

Methodology and Limitations

The Index combines quantitative and qualitative structural analysis. MDP Score, Opportunity Multiplier, Saturation, AFCI are each built from weighted numerically scored inputs — but many inputs (Long-Term Importance, Innovation Ecosystem, Trend Durability) ultimately rest on analyst judgment applied consistently, not single objective data feed. Treat every score as structured expression of that judgment, not scientific measurement.

What Scores Do and Do Not Represent

  • Reflect structural analysis of positioning, investment trajectory, competitive landscape
  • Do not represent guaranteed financial outcomes
  • Forward-looking, subject to tech, regulatory, competitive, sentiment shifts
  • Current as of research period, expected to change future volumes

Data Sources and Update Cadence

Public investment/market data, policy/regulatory activity, MyDomainPlan Research's own structural analysis of digital gateway positioning. Independent Corroboration itself is AFCI input precisely because reliability varies by territory. Intended as annual series, with quarterly Market Observations.

Strategic intelligence, not investment advice. Readers considering financial decision should conduct independent due diligence and consult qualified advisor. See full Investment Disclaimer front of volume.

Chapter Fourteen

About MyDomainPlan Research and Directory

This report is published by MyDomainPlan Research. MyDomainPlan also operates separate commercial division, MyDomainPlan Directory. This chapter exists to state relationship plainly — distinction matters for how report should be read.

MyDomainPlan Research

Independent research division behind AI First Gates Index and MDP Valuation Framework. Mission: identify, analyze, monitor emerging digital territories created by AI and digital economy. Every score produced using published methodology and nothing else. No territory/domain scored/ranked/included on basis of commercial relationship.

MyDomainPlan Directory

Curates 10,000+ premium domain opportunities using proprietary structural assessment methodologies. Distinct from research publications — designed to help subscribers apply insights from Index to own acquisition decisions. Where Index identifies which territories are strong, Directory is where subscriber can act directly.

How the Two Relate — Why Distinction Matters

Reasonable reader might ask whether research division owned by same company as domain marketplace can be trusted to rank objectively. Fair question.

  • Methodology fully published — every criterion, weight, formula shown with worked example, so reader can check score against inputs
  • Ranks territories, not inventory — Directory's specific inventory never referenced by name in research chapters
  • Credibility is commercial asset — methodology seen as biased would undermine Index value faster than benefit Directory sales

The Index ranks territories. The Directory sells positions within them. Keeping functions structurally separate is what allows first to remain credible.

Appendix

Appendix A — MDP Score Bands & Appendix B — Glossary

MDP Score Bands (0-100 Higher = More Favourable)

BandRangeInterpretation
Extraordinary95-100Clear Tier One, strongest structural combination
Exceptional90-94Tier One, very strong across most criteria
Very High80-89Strong Tier One-adjacent
High70-79Solid, durable territory
Moderate50-69Early or contested
Low<50Not yet structurally significant

Opportunity Multiplier Bands

BandRangeMeaning
Extraordinary90-100Massive asymmetry — future value far ahead of present cost
Very High80-89Strong asymmetry
High65-79Attractive gap
Moderate<65Mostly priced in

Saturation Bands (0-100 Lower = More Favourable / Less Crowded)

BandRangeMeaning
Very Low0-25Nearly uncontested — open gateway
Low26-40Still open
Medium41-60Moderately contested
High61-80Crowded
Very High81-100Highly saturated

Glossary of Core Terms

TermDefinition
AI EconomyFull ecosystem of companies, professionals, consumers, governments, researchers, investors — Layer Four
AI First GatesStrategically positioned digital gateways serving as primary points for discovery/access of AI — structural positions, not companies
AFCI0-100 Higher = More Confidence. Reliability of signals behind MDP Score
Framework4-layer model: Digital Territory, AI Gateway, Digital Infrastructure, AI Economy
AI Gateway DomainPremium digital identity positioned to become trusted entry point — actual asset, not category
Digital GatewayTrusted, memorable entry point through which people discover/access ecosystem
Digital TerritoryBroad sector of human activity where AI adoption occurs (e.g., Healthcare)
DTSS0-100 Lower = Better. Measures crowding — CD+EGR+IR+TO
MDP Score0-100 Higher = Better. Primary structural strength score — 11 weighted criteria
Opportunity Multiplier0-100 Higher = Better. Mispricing — Future Value vs Present Cost

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